Skip to content

Gareth Southgate's England squad selected with Sky Sports Power Rankings

GRAPHIC

We have selected Gareth Southgate's England squad, based on the Sky Sports Power Rankings and there are several surprises...

Southgate is set to announce his provisional England squad on Wednesday - but which players would be selected if only stats from this season were factored?

We have used the Sky Sports Power Rankings - a system that awards each player points for 32 different matchday stats - to find out...

Salah wins PL Power Rankings
Salah wins PL Power Rankings

Mohamed Salah wins Sky Sports Power Rankings for 2017/18 Premier League season

Check out the 23-man squad and a starting XI below...

The stats-based squad

  • NICK POPE
  • JORDAN PICKFORD
  • JACK BUTLAND
  • CHRIS SMALLING
  • JAMES TARKOWSKI
  • HARRY MAGUIRE
  • KYLE WALKER
  • ASHLEY YOUNG
  • JAMES TOMKINS
  • JAMAAL LASCELLES
  • CRAIG DAWSON
  • AARON CRESWELL
  • DELE ALLI
  • JACK CORK
  • ANDROS TOWNSEND
  • JESSE LINGARD
  • ERIC DIER
  • RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK
  • HARRY KANE
  • RAHEEM STERLING
  • JAMIE VARDY
  • MARCUS RASHFORD
  • GLENN MURRAY

GOALKEEPERS

Nick Pope is England's No 1, according to the stats. The 26-year-old has excelled at Burnley since replacing Tom Heaton in September.

Pope has kept 11 clean sheets in the Premier League - more than any other England 'keeper - and is particularly effective at catching crosses, with a league-high 52 this term.

England goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Nick Pope arrive for training, on the eve of their international friendly against Italy
Image: England goalkeepers Jordan Pickford, Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Nick Pope ahead of their international friendly against Italy in March

Jordan Pickford claims the back-up spot, while Stoke's Jack Butland is the final selection.

Also See:

There is no place for England's veteran first-choice stopper Joe Hart - who ranks bottom of the Power Rankings after a disappointing season with West Ham.

DEFENDERS

Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling has fallen out of favour with the England boss, but he is the first defender on the team-sheet - boosted by his four league goals.

Burnley's James Tarkowski made his England debut against Italy in March and makes the stats-based starting XI - having surpassed Smalling for aerials won with 147 in the league this season.

burnley

Harry Maguire has stepped up to the plate after his summer move from relegated Hull to Leicester and is the final pick in the three-man back line.

Unsurprisingly, Kyle Walker claims right wing-back, while Manchester United's reinvented Ashley Young commands the left flank.

Other defenders to make the squad include James Tomkins, Jamaal Lascelles, Craig Dawson and Aaron Cresswell.

MIDFIELDERS

The stats suggest Burnley's Jack Cork gets the nod as England's first-choice defensive midfielder - ahead of Tottenham's Eric Dier.

However, Spurs team-mate Dele Alli makes the starting XI as the source of creativity - with 63 chances created and 10 assists this season - flanked by wing-backs Walker and Young.

Southgate has overlooked Andros Townsend to date, but the Crystal Palace winger makes the grade statistically, earning a starting place on the left of the two forwards - two years after his last international appearance.

crystal palace

Other midfielders to make the squad include Dier, Jesse Lingard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

FORWARDS

Harry Kane is England's top-ranked player in the Power Rankings and spearheads the team, flanked by Townsend and Manchester City's reinvigorated Raheem Sterling down the right.

tottenham

Jamie Vardy is unfortunate to start on the bench, being England's fourth-best player in the Power Rankings - behind only Kane, Sterling and Alli - and is joined by Marcus Rashford and Brighton's Glenn Murray.

POWER RANKINGS ENGLAND XI

Pick your England squad below and don't forget to share your selections and let us know what you think on our social channels.

Comment below to get involved in the debate, but please adhere to our House Rules. If you wish to report any comment, simply click on the down arrow next to the offending comment and click 'Report'.

Around Sky